[ ♪ theme ♪ ] >> bill: well, good morning everybody. it is tuesday august 21. can you believe it? here we go with another big day and a lot to talk about on the "full court press." welcome to the program here on current tv. we'll tell you what's happening around the country around the globe here in washington, d.c. where president obama held an impromptu news conference at the white house yesterday. i was there and of course, in missouri republican senate

candidate todd akin has until 5:00 tonight to drop out of the race. pressure is building on him from republicans to drop out of the race. i hope he stays in it! because todd akin's not alone. he is the poster boy of a republican party's war on women. no doubt about it. boy, we'll tackle that and a whole lot more here with you this morning. first, we get all of the latest, today's current news update from lisa ferguson standing by in los angeles. hi lisa. good morning. >> hi, bill. good morning everyone. mitt romney is getting a little more than he bargained for in the first few days after choosing a v.p. nominee. it didn't take long for the paul ryan hype to get overshadowed by a couple of questionable decisions forcing romney and ryan to distance themselves from some members of the republican party. for one, the duo is condemning rep kevin yoder's decision to go skinny dipping in the sea of galilee after some late-night

drinking. romney is calling the behavior reprehensible and terrible mistake. he's also quick to criticize todd akin's legitimate rape remarks saying that one is insulting, inexcusable and frankly, wrong. but it sounds like paul ryan has more in common with akin than he might like to admit. think progress points out the two partnered on the no taxpayer funding for abortion act. that is a bill that introduced the forcible rape term to america as opposed to nonforced rape apparently. they cosponsored the sanctity of human right act giving a fertilized egg the same rights as a human being. that's unconstitutional but it would ban abortions and several types of birth control if ever took effect. voters are not too happy with akin's comments. according to a new poll from survey u.s.a., 54% of missourians say he should drop out of the race for senate. but don't necessarily expect him to disappear any time soon.

he's launching and i'm not quitting ad campaign. back with more bill press and we're live in chat at current.com/billpress. how are you ever going to solve the problem if you don't look at all of the pieces? >>tv and radio talk show host stephanie miller rounds out current's morning news block. >>you're welcome current tv audience for the visual candy. >>sharp tongue, quick whit and above all, politically direct. >>you just think there is no low they won't go to. oh, no. if al gore's watching today...

you want to save money on car insurance?

no problem. you want to save money on rv insurance? no problem. you want to save money on motorcycle insurance? no problem. you want to find a place to park all these things? fuggedaboud it. this is new york. hey little guy, wake up! aw, come off it mate! geico. saving people money on more than just car insurance. here we are on the "full court press" this tuesday, june 12th. good to have you with us. >> announcer: on your radio, on tv, the "bill press show." new on current tv.

[ ♪ theme ♪ ] >> announcer: broadcasting >> announcer: broadcasting across the nation on your radio and on current tv, this is the "bill press show." >> bill: we had a surprise visitor to the white house briefing room yesterday. the president himself! i was there. i'll tell you all about it. hello, everybody. it is tuesday. how about it. tuesday, august 21. whoa, we're looking good today! it is so good to see you and welcome to the program. i see some of you there in your

pajamas still. wish i were. good morning, good morning, good morning. thank you for joining us here on the "full court press" here on current tv. your local progressive talk radio station and this hour only, blame them, don't blame me on sirius x.m. great to have you with us today. yes, the president did give us a lot to chew on yesterday at the impromptu, unannounced unscheduled little news conference in the briefing room. we'll tell you all about that in missouri increasing cries and demands on todd akin to step aside. i hope he doesn't. we'll talk about that, of course. president obama laying down the warning, didn't draw a line in the sand but he did say there is a red line he won't cross -- he won't allow assad to cross in syria and he -- an indication they're moving around or planning to use their chemical weapons. the president said that means u.s. troops will be moving in.

so on many fronts, lots to talk about this morning. lots you're going to want to talk about at 1-866-55-press. that's our toll free number. here standing by, ready to serve you, take your calls and involve you in the program. peter ogborn, dan henning hi, guys. >> hi, there. >> good morning. >> bill: team press with cyprian bowlding putting us all on television every day. hello, cyprian. >> yes indeed. >> bill: another sad passing yesterday. the great ones have been dropping right and left here. phyllis diller dead yesterday at her home. died at her home in brentwood california. at the age of 95. she had a good, long run. and not the first but certainly one of the greatest of the stand-up women comics and paved the way for a lot of them who are out there today. >> talk about staying power! >> bill: talk about staying power, yeah. the outfits she wore, she wore

that wig that orange wig. and sort of her shtick was making fun of herself. she said, for example here we have a quick blip of phyllis diller talking about how beautiful she is and what she did about it. >> would you believe that i once entered a beauty contest? i must have been out of my mind. i not only came in last. i got 361 get well cards. [ laughter ] >> bill: one of her favorite lines also was that she had wore a peekaboo blouse once. first they peeked then they said boo. [ laughter ] she poked fun at her husband a lot and at her mother-in-law who was so fat so heavy, we should say, that she had a hard time getting in the car. >> when she gets in the car you

get stretch marks that glow in the dark. one day a volkswagen hit her. hell, they never found it. [ laughter ] >> bill: and she said famously once that she never did make who's who but she did make what's that? she delivered her lines -- >> totally. she's one of those comics -- when i was young, she was an older comic and she embraced the aging thing and worked it into her routine. >> bill: she was doing stand-up in the san francisco bay area. bob hope discovered her. >> really? >> bill: then brought her to hollywood. >> she has a bob hope quality. >> bill: it's that old kind of horse belt humor. phyllis diller, a lot of laughs. congressman donna edwards is on fire over todd akin.

eleanor is even more on fire. they're going to be together. they're going to rip him a new one. >> lady's night here on the "full court press." >> bill: it is tuesdays. tuesdays with judd legum of think progress up in the next hour as well. but first... >> this is the "full court press." >> other headlines making news on this tuesday -- >> cheering section. >> roger clemens is playing baseball again. the former new york yankees pitcher found not guilty of perjury this summer relating to his denial of using steroids has signed a deal with the sugar land skeeters, a team in the independent atlantic league playing houston texas. he will pitch for the first time -- >> bill: sugarland texas? >> no, in houston texas. sugarland skeeters is the name of the team. >> bill: sugarland is where tom delay is from. >> he will pitch this weekend for the first time in five years. the heat he was throwing in practice is the far cry from what it was once.

clock the fastball at just 87 miles per hour. >> why is he doing that? >> bill: he has to start juicing again. >> marriage means more drinking for women and less for men. that's the word from a new 47 year long university of cincinnati study. married women drink more than previously married women but married men are drinking less than previously married men. >> bill: you lost me. >> i don't understand. >> bill: married men are drinking less and married women are drinking more? >> exactly. >> bill: okay, okay. i understand why some women. >> once the woman gets married she's drinking more than when she's not. >> i understand. >> bill: we got it now. >> that makes perfect sense. >> bill: i think it makes perfect sense for both of them to drink more. >> exactly. >> "usa today" reports researchers looked at 5,000 wisconsin high school graduates from the class of 1957 for this study. they found that individual

behavior -- with people whom they spent a great deal of time. >> bill: it was in wisconsin. no wonder. they had to put up with scott walker. >> no time like the present to trade in your iphone. apple will introduce the new iphone 5 on september 12th. and that it will go on sale on the 21st. >> i like the accessories on yours. >> bill: that's why i have my rubber band on there to hold it together until i can get the new one. >> you can still get between $250 and $275 for your iphone. but the price won't last long. >> the what? >> the iphone 4. >> bill: who wants to buy a 4. >> you're not even listening to what i'm saying. >> did you pay $20 for that rubber band that you have around that thing? >> bill: okay. >> do you want to try again? do you want to try again? [ laughter ]

>> bill: wait, wait. get back here. >> bill: i just want to point out that anticipation of sales of the iphone 5 and i'm in line. i'm going to be there the first day. >> you strike me as the kind of guy that would wait in line. >> bill: i wouldn't wait in line. i wouldn't wait in line to shake barack obama's hand. [ laughter ] >> bill: i always want to point out that in anticipation of the sale, right apple yesterday, their stock hit $665 making it the most highly valued public company ever in history. the company is worth $623.5 billion! and a lot of that is -- it's not even out there yet. the iphone 5. one other thing before you go. wait. i forgot to mention this at the top of the hour.

we got them now. the paperback. we can offer you a signed copy of the paperback. a lot of you couldn't afford the hard cover "the obama hate machine" or you may have liked it so much now you want to get a paperback for a friend. we've got the paperback now. this comes on the market today. bookstores today. the "the obama hate machine." and the paperback signed and delivered. postage, everything included, $16.99. right? >> personalized however you would like it. >> bill: you tell us how you would like to personalize it. i've signed a lot of raunchy obscene dedications. that's all right. if that's what you want, that's what i'll do. go to the web site, billpressshow.com. >> don't get too raunchy. >> bill: it's not me. >> 50 shades of bill press. >> bill: i just write what preme want. what people want. >> bill: you can get outta here.

let's get into it with todd akin. first, let's just start. just to be sure you understand how outrageous he was sunday on a tv interview out in missouri. this is the republican party's poster boy. this is a guy they chose to be their senate candidate against claire mccaskill who is known as one of the most extreme right-wingers when it comes to social issues. he's against abortion any way any time, any how for whatever reason even for rape and the reporter asks him, the interviewer, well, what about certainly you would go along in the case of rape, no? and todd akin says no. and here's why. >> it seems to me first of all from what i understand from doctors, that's really rare. if it is a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down but let's assume maybe that didn't work or something.

punishment ought to be in the rapist and not attacking the child. >> bill: unbelievable. there is zero evidence of that! i mean, doctors quote-unquote. this is a guy who's on the house science committee? maybe todd akin can explain to us how does a woman's body know and how are they able to distinguish a friendly sperm from an unfriendly sperm? this is just so -- it is not just insensitive. it is just wrong. it is just -- it is just uncannily stupid! and without any evidence whatsoever. it is just wrong wrong wrong. as president obama said yesterday at our little imp promptu news conference, come on, we don't start parsing rape. >> obama: the views expressed were offensive. rape is rape. >> bill: rape is rape. so yesterday the cries started

mounting for todd akin to jump out of the race. especially from republicans right? scott brown up in massachusetts. of course, he's so afraid of elizabeth warren, he'll say anything to make him look like a moderate. john cornyn and mitch mcconnell and sean hannity all jumped in said you gotta get out of the race. the deadline is 5:00 tonight for him to get out of the race. todd akin is sticking so far sticking in there. he went on mike huckabee to say i ain't quiten. >> i feel just as strongly as ever that my background and ability to be a big asset in replacing claire mccaskill and putting some sanity back in what's going on in our government. >> bill: and he did admit -- he did finally admit that he was wrong about this a little bit. >> i also know that people do become pregnant from rape and didn't mean to imply that that wasn't the case. it does happen. and it is also terrible,

particularly the most terrible of all. >> bill: according to the latest study i saw 32,000 women a year get pregnant due to rape. >> how dumb do people think you are? when you have to go out and say i realize that women can get pregnant from being raped. how stupid are you? >> bill: absolutely. so here's a point now. he's got until 5:00 tonight to drop out. frankly, i think he will drop out because karl rove has pulled his crossroads money out of it. john cornyn said we're not going to put anymore senate committee money in there. i don't think todd akin can survive. here's what we have to understand. this isn't just todd akin. and even if he does drop out we can't let it stop here. there's only one reason that the republicans are so outraged, so angry at todd akin. it is not because of what he said. they believe this crap. this is what the republican party believes. they've been trying to do this

for years! paul ryan, remember, i told you this yesterday paul ryan cosponsored in the house of representatives with todd akin legislation that would parse rape. that would limit rape, would say women can only get federal funding -- it is only okay to have an abortion and get federal funding for it when it's forcible rape. as if there's any such thing as unforcible rape. yesterday, there were organizations, the family research council said oh, no, we still support todd akin because he is what we believe. the family research council. they still support him. they say he's a true conservative. this is the republican party's war on women! and todd akin is not alone. listen to this. this woman sharon barnes, is a member of the republican committee in missouri, right? and she says todd akin's gotta stay in the race because she said you know, very few rapes she said, result in pregnancy.

she's an idiot! she's insane. she says very few rapes result in pregnancy. at that point, she says "if god has chosen to bless this person with a life, you don't kill it. that's what he was trying to say." she goes on to say what a great conservative godly man todd akin is and she's sure that people will put his comment in its proper context. todd akin is the republican party. he is the poster boy of the republican party on women. and todd -- and paul ryan is his ally. in that war on women. that's what this is all about. so whether todd akin leaves or not, that's not the end of the story. we can't let it be the end of the story. 1-866-55-press. republicans are mad because he let the cat out of the bag! he said publicly what they all believe. let's talk about it. 1-866-55-press.

>> announcer: on your radio on tv the "bill press show." new on current tv. >>"if you ever raise taxes on >>the rich, you're going to destroy our economy." not true!

>>i jump out of my skin at people when i'm upset. do you share the sense of outrage that they're doing this, this corruption based on corruption based on corruption. >>i think that's an understatement, eliot. u>> i'm not prone tot. understatement, so explain to me why that is. i think the mob learned from wall st., not vice versa.

>> announcer: heard around the country and seen on current tv this is the "bill press show." >> bill: hey, it is 24 minutes after the hour. >> announcer: radio meets television. the "bill press show." now on current tv. >> bill: all right. 26 minutes after the hour. on our web site, billpressshow.com. you can find my latest column. the ryan/romney pick, a double trouble for the g.o.p. now the trouble is coming from missouri with todd akin and his remarks over rape.

but again, don't be fooled. republicans are the only reason they're upset about what he said is because if he stays in, they think they could lose a senate race. they just care about holding on to the senate seat and getting claire mccaskill out of there. they don't disagree with what scott akin said. they're angry at him only because he dared say publicly what they all believe and what they've been trying to do for years. he didn't -- he's not the first one to say this. look at where the republican party is on this issue. part of their war on women. mary is calling from houston texas. hey, mary, good morning. >> caller: good morning, bill. >> bill: yeah. what's up? >> caller: i just can't believe any woman would vote for todd akin. they just -- they're trying to like outreligious each other in that republican party. >> bill: yeah, they are. the family research council still supports him and says he ought to stay in there. you heard about what i read from that woman from missouri. >> caller: i don't know what's happened to that party. it is frightening.

>> bill: mary, i don't know how any republican could vote for -- any woman could vote for todd akin. i don't know how any woman could vote for any republican. tom calling from st. louis missouri including scott brown. hi tom. >> caller: hi, bill. how you doing? love your show. >> bill: thank you. >> caller: hey, listen i think that they're just using this todd akin -- he will be a fall guy. he's a fall guy. they're going to lose. i've never seen so many right wing incompetents in one group in my whole entire life. when they lose, they're going to use this guy as a -- he's just going to be a fall guy. >> bill: that's what they're trying to make him now. but again, they want him out of the way because they're afraid he can make them lose that seat which i think he would. but also, they want him out of the way because how dare he go out and let people know what the republican party really stands for when it comes to women. they don't care about women. they don't want women to control

their own bodies. >> announcer: this is the "bill press show." ed is calling from frederick maryland. what do you say, ed? >> caller: good morning. >> bill: good morning. >> we talk a lot about the influence of money in politics. it is the defining issue of this era. the candidate with the most money does win. this is a national crisis.

>> announcer: this is the "full court press." the "bill press show." live on your radio and on current tv. >> bill: you bet. 33 minutes after the hour now. here we are on the "full court press" on a tuesday morning. good to have you with us. back to your calls. about republican efforts to try to get todd akin out of the race now in missouri. yeah. i hope he stays in. i hope he stays in because he is

sure to lose to claire mccaskill. but the other thing is let's not be fooled, right? he's not alone. he and paul ryan are twins on this issue. 1-866-55-press. back to your calls. don't forget on our web site at billpressshow.com. paperback of "the obama hate machine." it is out today and you can get a signed copy from us by just going to our web site. tell us how you want it signed and go to billpressshow.com. back to your calls in just a minute. but first, i know a lot of you are looking for ways to pay your bills at the end of the month. can't quite make it. need a little extra cash. you ought to check out incomeathome.com. you've heard me talk about them before. they are america's leading work from home business. doing business in over 80 countries a day. this is something you can do. you can literally earn money from your own kitchen table using your own laptop and do it 24/7 no matter your age education or experience.

so at least look into it if you're sick of living paycheck to paycheck, worried about job security or retirement. if you're looking and hoping and wanting to earn some extra money from home, part-time or full time incomeathome.com. they're adding my listeners in record numbers and even giving away $1,000 to somebody just for checking them out. do you so by visiting incomeathome.com. that's incomeathome.com. on todd akin. john in columbus, ohio. hey, john, what do you think of this? >> caller: good morning, bill. >> bill: yes sir. >> caller: well, for me, it just seems to beg the question from these legislators that want to ban all abortions even in this situation is how many crisis centers have you been to before you've made this decision to you know completely change someone's life? >> bill: good question. and the idea that they say well,

doctors have told them this. you know, that's just bogus. it is like they say we've talked to quote scientiststo say there's no such thing as global warming. >> caller: the other one i would like to say kudos to the democratic hopeful there that she knew enough to back him in the primary. [ laughter ] >> bill: claire mccaskill knew how extreme he is. but again absolutely right jon. again, todd akin is this extreme. i think it is important to make sure people understand. paul ryan is this extreme. todd akin's partner in the house on legislation to define -- redefine rape as only forcible rape should be considered. not unforcible rape. what's that, paul ryan?

secondly, todd akin, paul ryan, buddy-buddies, cosponsors of the legislation on fetal personhood. to fertilize egg, to define that as a person with all of the rights of a human being. so extreme that the voters of mississippi rejected it. todd akin and paul ryan. when you think todd akin, think paul ryan. paul ryan could have said the very same thing. that todd akin said on sunday. it is just that paul ryan wasn't dumb enough to say it. he believes it. he wasn't dumb enough to say it. let's go to denver, colorado. hi greg. thanks for joining us. >> caller: how you doing bill? >> bill: i'm doing good. thanks. >> caller: what is next for these guys? they don't like children born out of wedlock so maybe they're going to go for the victim of a rape should also have to marry her attacker just so that they can have a family unit. these people are disgusting. i can't believe they get elected each election year. here in colorado, we had

senator -- candidate republican candidate senator buck who not only had this young lady where he said she was not raped but they had an amendment on there and he has the same position as the rest of the republican party and then they wonder why this guy didn't win? i hope we get to run against this year. i really do. >> bill: you're right greg. there is another example. i mean this attempt to so narrowly define rape that basically it eliminates rape as an exception to their anti-abortion thing. it has been happening state after state and all across the country. again, i keep coming back to that. todd akin is not alone. he's not the first one. this is not an aberration. this is the republican party. todd akin is a republican party. he is karl rove. he is mitt romney. he is paul ryan. he is reince priebus.

he's scott brown. he is the republican party. this is -- he's the manifestation, the latest of their war on women. again, in our last hour together this morning, hope you can hang around for it, we're going to have eleanor shaquille o'neal from the feminist majority in studio with congresswoman donna edwards from maryland and can't wait to let them loose on todd akin and the republican war on women. deb is in chicago. hello, deb. >> caller: hi, bill. i'm so glad you're pressing the fact that this is not an aberration. this truly is the republican party. i remember all of us women being so upset when paul ryan and todd akin introduced that legislation and when they tried to redefine the word "rape." >> bill: what is forcible rape deb? can you help us out here? that whole concept is so repugnant. >> caller: basically, what it is saying bill, is women are using

the excuse of rape. that we're not truly being raped. we're using that as our excuse to have the abortion. it is very, very condescending. but i would also like to point out that michael another outspoken republican who showed their agenda, the most egregious thing he said was the voter i.d. which would allow governor romney to win but let's not forget, he also said prosecond amendment doctrine done, first pro-life legislation abortion facility regulations done. so see and we need to keep pointing that out. it is not an aberration. it is the entire republican party agenda. >> bill: i was just looking while you were talking todd akin's spiritual mentor is a right wing evangelist preacher called reverend james kennedy. and he's the guy that todd akin has quoted over and over again. here are some things thanks to

think progress. we'll talk more about this with judd legum in the next hour. kennedy believes rape victims who choose abortion are "hysterical." rape victims who choose abortion are hysterical. rape victims can be responsible for being raped. he holds the bible should set our laws about rape and abortion. and he also thinks husbands should decide if their wives can have an abortion. this is a guy that todd akin says he's my spiritual mentor. yeah. he's paul ryan's spiritual mentor too. deb, thanks forrell the call. fred is in littleburn, missouri. right in the state of todd akin. >> caller: hi, bill, how's it going? >> bill: what's the reaction out there? >> caller: well, basically it is still unbelievable leaning toward akins but they're trying

to get him off the ticket because he's so close to ryan that they don't want ryan to be put in the burner. the most important thing i think -- excuse me, came out yesterday when the president was at the conference, with the reporters, not one reporter asked him anything about the akins thing. they directly went what about all of this stuff on the news? why are you attacking romney on everything? every reporter stuck with that. >> bill: fred, wait. i was there okay. no, that's really not true. he got -- i forget whether it was the second or third question but he was asked directly about todd akin's remarks. in fact, we played a little clip at the very top of the show. you might not have heard but the president said they were disgusting, they were offensive. he said, you know, we should not be in the business of trying to parse rape.

and he made that -- what i thought was a very powerful statement saying rape is rape, period. end of story. so i just want you to know the president was asked about that yesterday. he was asked about syria. he was asked about the ads and he was asked about todd akin for sure. i was hoping to ask him about gun control but he didn't call on me. for some reason. but the president made it very clear. his disgust with these comments yesterday. we'll be right back. >> announcer: this is the "bill press show" live on your radio and current tv. >>bill shares his views, now it's your turn. >>i know you're going to want to weigh in on these issues. >>connect with "full court press with bill press" at facebook.com/billpressshow and on twitter at bpshow. >>i believe people are hungry for it.

so... [ gasps ] these are sandra's "homemade" yummy, scrumptious bars. hmm? maybe. rich chocolate chips... i just wanted you to eat more fiber. chewy, oatie, gooeyness... and, and...and then the awards started coming in, and i became addicted to the fame. topped with chocolaty drizzle... and fraudulence. i'm in deep, babe. you certainly are. [ male announcer ] fiber one. fiber beyond recognition.

>>it's the place where democracy is supposed to be the great equalizer, where your vote is worth just as much as donald trump's. we must save the country. it starts with you.

>> announcer: radio meets >> announcer: on your radio and on current tv, this is the "bill press show." >> bill: okay. todd akin let the cat out of the bag. republicans are mad at him because he's telling the whole country what the republican war on women is all about. and he's not alone. paul ryan believes the same stuff. i will continue to talk about that throughout the show today. 1-866-55-press. if you want to talk about it. but also there is some other news around the world and around the country. big news on the sports front yesterday. augusta finally caved in and they announced they're accepting two new members to the augusta national and they are two women. first time two women have ever been allowed. hootie johnson must be rolling in his grave. i assume he's no longer with us.

he's no longer head of augusta national. we remember what hootie said the chances were way way back that they would ever change this policy. here's hootie. >> if i drop dead this second, my position will not change. >> bill: he hasn't dropped dead yet peter tells me. he's still alive. condy rice and darla moore a south carolina businesswoman the first two female members of augusta national. what's this all mean? we're joined by "huffington post" sports columnist jordan schultz on our news line this morning. hey, jordan, great to you have with us. >> great to be here. >> bill: who gets the credit for this? martha bourque? >> just for him to allow this to happen as a chairman is a big thing. and i think that you know, either you're in support of condoleezza rice or darla moore you have to understand that this is a big big thing because for

a club that's been open almost 100 years even ten years ago this looked like it would never happen. it is a big move. i think it is the right move and for sports, it has tried so hard to stay relevant and fresh this is very important. >> bill: it is certainly the right move but isn't it about 40 years too late? >> it is too late but i think in this case, it is better late than never just because you look at the history of augusta and how tough it's been just to penetrate that place even the smallest way. it is a place built on tradition and really never changing. this place has never changed so this represents a lot of things that golf and augusta national have not had before. >> bill: billy payne certainly does get the credit for bringing the club around on this issue. to what extent -- we remember the last time with the national -- i forget her name now, the president -- the fact

that the president of ibm is a woman -- >> yeah. >> bill: and they're one of the chief sponsors. she therefore would not be allowed to play on the course, was a big embarrassment. do you think that quickened the move here? >> i think that was a part of it. also for a long time, blacks were not allowed as well. i think it was 1990 or '91 they finally allowed them to come. augusta national is a big -- when people think about golf, they actually think about augusta national as being incredibly important. i think that for them to do this at the very top of the sport the pinnacle of the sport in terms of the elite tournament in golf and all golf around the world is just extremely important and yes, you have to give bourque credit. she was fantastic for this. all around, it is a big move. >> bill: martha burke took her ten years but she's the first one.

i redown the street from augusta. i remember seeing the video. down the street with the signs and everything and that movement kept building year after year after year. and victory was finally run. we're talking with jordan schultz, sports columnist for "the huffington post." you can find him the schultz report of course at huffingtonpost.com. i'm curious about the fact that it ends up being condy rice and darla moore. condy hasn't been playing golf that long, i know. so she's a two-fer african-american woman. now, what's membership -- any idea what it costs to join augusta? >> i've been trying to find the exact number. it is very expensive. >> bill: are we talking $100,000? $200,000? >> it is in that vicinity. especially for a course that has been revamped as much as it has. also i think that the women -- i'm not sure -- i'm trying to find this out bill.

i'm not sure if they have to pay full or if they have something for the first year. >> bill: i hope they don't have a cut rate for women in that club. another form of discrimination. >> i think -- they will end up paying the full amount but i'm not exactly sure what it is. i've heard it is certainly in the six figure range. >> bill: now again you couldn't have a higher profile woman than candy rice -- than condy rice and darla moore in the business world. she's been on the cover of fortune 500 the first woman to be -- the first businesswoman to be on the cover. did they go out and recruit them or how did it happen that they end up with two such high profile women. >> with condoleezza rice, bill, because she's always been at the forefront of sports, she's always made it clear she's a big sports fan, she was a natural fit. the fact that she loves golf and

she has a relationship with a lot of people around the tour and you saw tiger woods say this is really good. i think that was important for her. not as sure but having condy rice there from a pure perspective in the public image that people truly recognize her i think that was important to augusta. >> bill: i think they probably did some recruiting on their own and said hey we're thinking of changing our policy. would you consider being one of the first women to apply. something like that. as you point out, maybe they even said we'll sweeten the offer by giving you a discount for the first year only. i don't know. now, do they have a women's room at augusta? are they going to have to install one? >> there is going to be some type of deal. as of now there is none. they do also have -- i know. >> bill: no women's locker

room or restroom. they never let them in. >> no women's restroom or any area for women. i do think that something will be installed. i'm actually -- i'm now -- i did find something that told me i don't think they actually will have any kind of exemption. it is closer to about $150,000. >> bill: i'll never join. at that price. >> i think for most people, it is something you have go do. you don't feel as poorly about a round. >> bill: hey jordan, always good to have you with us. sports columnist from "the huffington post." >> you're welcome. thanks. >> announcer: this is the "bill press show."

if you have copd like i do you know how hard it can be to breathe and what that feels like. copd includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. spiriva helps control my copd symptoms what's my secret for sunday lunch? my little helpers... and 100% natural french's yellow mustard. it has zero calories for me, and a taste my family loves.

?ñ?ñ start you morning with a daily dose of politics from a fresh perspective. >>i'm a slutty bob hope. the troops love me. >>only on current tv.

>> announcer: taking your e-mails on any topic at any >> announcer: taking your e-mails on any topic at any time, this is the "bill press show." live on your radio and current tv. >> bill: president obama making a surprise appearance in the white house briefing room yesterday. i was there. i'll tell you all about it at the top of the next hour. talking about todd akin. mostly this hour. linda cox chimes in. hey, bill, i don't want this creep to drop out. he's the face of the party. let him become their next idiot senator. we don't want that. by the way he is still the head of the democrat. geez, people are stupid. i don't think the people of missouri are stupid enough to elect todd akin.

>> announcer: this is the "bill press show." it's like chicken and crunchy stuff got married! i only use french's french fried onions on my crunchy onion chicken because it's america's number one brand. just minutes to make, then bake!

[ ♪ theme ♪ ] >> bill: good morning everybody. happy tuesday. it is tuesday august 21. so good to see you today. welcome to the "full court press" here on current tv and we've got lots and lots to talk about this morning. you're going to want to call about, too at 1-866-55-press. president obama holding an impromptu news conference here in washington, d.c. yesterday at the white house. i was there. where he talked about syria. he talked about todd akin. and he talked about the lies that mitt romney is telling about his campaign out in

missouri. increasing pressure. from republicans on todd akin to drop out of the race after his outrageous comments about race and augusta national has made history finally welcoming two women members but why did it take so long? we'll cover the waterfront with you. first, let's take time out to get all of the latest, today's current news update from our good buddy lisa ferguson out in los angeles. hi lisa, good morning. >> hi, bill, good morning everyone. it is only tuesday but it's pretty safe to say that todd akin's legitimate rape remark is the most controversial line of the week. he's quickly trying to backtrack on that statement and is out with a new ad today called forgiveness. >> rape is an evil act. i used the wrong words in the wrong way and for that, i apologize. as the father of two daughters i want tough justice for predators. i have a compassionate heart for the victims of sexual assault and i pray for them.

the fact is rape could lead to pregnancy. >> despite calls for akin to drop out of the senate race, he said he's not quitting and is asking for small donations to help him stay in the running. and there's plenty of campaign fodder on paul ryan from his budget plan to medicare to his social stance and the war on women. but today president obama is taking a different line of attack hitting ryan on education. mr. obama heads to capital university in ohio followed by a community college in reno, nevada. he is telling voters ryan's budget cuts $115 billion from the department of education. it also takes pell grants away from one million college students and takes two million low income children out of head start education programs. obama ad running in ohio right now says nearly 400,000 of the state students would lose their grants. ryan's defense here that his budget plan won't apply evenly

to all states so even though cuts would happen, he can't say where they would take place. back with more bill. see you then. >> we talk a lot about the influence of money in politics. it is the defining issue of this era. the candidate with the most money does win. this is a national crisis.

joining us. >> my pleasure. thanks for having me, man.

when a carpet is clean and fresh, it's irresistible. experience this in your home with resolve deep clean powder. its moist powder penetrates deep, removing three times more dirt than vacuuming alone while also neutralizing odors at their source. it's a clean you can see smell, and really enjoy. resolve deep clean powder. don't just vacuum clean, resolve clean.

>> announcer: broadcasting across the nation on your radio and on current tv. this is the "bill press show." >> bill: todd akin has until 5:00 tonight to get out of the race in missouri. i hope he stays in. best thing for claire mccaskill and he'll continue to embarrass paul ryan and all of the other republicans by staying in. hello, everybody. it is tuesday august 21. this is the "full court press." how about it? good to have you with us today as we boom out to you live from

our nation's capital and our studio here on capitol hill. coming to you live on your local progressive talk radio station and on current tv. where we tackle the news of the day and get into it. take your calls at 1-866-55-press. that's our toll free number. don't forget the chat room, it is a lot of fun when you can join the other listeners and a lot of other listeners and viewers to the "full court press" by going to current.com and then just clicking on joining the chat room and you guys can talk all you want back and forth about the issues that we're talking about and keep the conversation going. we love it. good to see you today and good to say hello again to the team. team press here. peter ogborn and dan henning. >> happy tuesday. >> bill, good morning. >> bill: cyprian bowlding. nats won last night.

>> nats won. >> 13 innings which was very long. >> bill: we're in the playoffs right? >> knock on wood. knock on wood. >> we're not in the playoffs yet. >> bill: they would have to lose every game from now on. >> do you not live in washington, d.c., home of the redskins and capitals who notoriously shoot themselves in the foot? let's keep hope alive. >> bill: idiot dan snyder owner. >> it is looking very good. >> last night was a little iffy on the pitching. we went through the entire pitching line-up. but we got it done. we're playing the braves which are a darn good baseball team. the nats still have the best record. >> it looked like a playoff game last night. it looked like a playoff game. two teams they knew that -- they knew how important it was to win that game and get the momentum in that series and it was great. they were battling it out. >> bill: all right. good for them. funny story today. i think continues to be the

republican members of congress, all republicans who had a drunken orgy -- well, let's not say orgy but a drunken party on the shores of the sea of galilee a year ago. they all decided at the spur-of-the-moment let's jump in the lake, right? one of them, some went in with all of their clothes. some took off part of their clothes. kevin yoder from kansas took off all of his clothes and went skinny-dipping. he says man, shy have done that. >> alcohol was not a factor in the decision to jump in. it was more of a spontaneous thing. clearly, i made a mistake. >> bill: the reports were they were all so drunk and so rowdy that eric kantor who was along on this trip did not go swimming at all let alone no skinny-dipping. wasn't part of the party. he got them together the next morning and admonished them and said their behavior was not fitting a republican member of congress. now, those who went swimming are

claiming the only ones swimming in the sea of galilee because it was a religious experience. they wanted to be in the water where jesus walked on the water. >> uh-huh. >> bill: they didn't know where they were. that is the lamest excuse. >> that's the worst excuse ever! >> bill: it was a religious experience. >> i'm sure it was! >> bill: god called us into the water. if that's true, why do they have to swim? they could have walked across it. >> it was a religious experience. oh god yoder took his pants off! i was talking to somebody about this yesterday. i've gone skinny-dipping a couple of times as an adult. not once have i been sober and gone skinny-dipping. enjoy breakfast by the way. those of you picturing me skinny-dipping. >> that's disgusting. >> enjoy! >> bill: you talk about skinny-dipping -- hundreds of times. hundreds of times. i was not drunk every time

either. >> good for you. >> bill: no. >> i called it drunk. you called it san francisco. >> i was going say. it is a california hippie thing. >> bill: i plead guilty. my favorite thing is about this story is there was not one democrat among the crowd. what i saw -- when i saw that story, i thought oh, my god. i started thinking of friends of mine members of congress that i knew could have been with them. barney frank? no. what a great line-up. judd legum from think progress here as always in just a little bit here on the "full court press." then next hour, get ready for this. to talk about todd akin. eleanor smiel joined by congresswoman donna edwards. they're both on fire. watch out. but first... >> this is the "full court press." >> other headlines making news on this tuesday michael phelps

is in trouble with the international olympic committee. the olympic swimmer is featured in a new ad campaign for louis vuitton handbags photos were leaked while the games were still going on. >> bill: what is he doing? carrying a handbag? >> lying in a bathtub next to a handbag but it is a violation of olympic rules. athletes aren't allowed to participate in nonofficial advertising during the games so as not to hurt the olympic sponsors. photos were shot by annie leibovitz. the committee could rule to fine him or maybe even strip some of his medals. >> bill: no! they wouldn't do that. no no, no. >> i don't think they'll do it. >> frasier is voting for mitt romney. one of hollywood's few conservatives, kelsey grammer endorsed mr. romney. grammer who currently stars in "boss" on the stars network told the pittsburgh gazette he thought he would make a good

president with the likes of kid rock and john voight in supporting him. >> bill: kelsey grammer is a jerk. he was thinking of running for office himself. he's just a jerk. >> they say when you have lemons, make lemonade. that's what one girl in northern california did with her summer vacation. vivian harr who is just 8 years old has raised $30,000 to fight human trafficking just selling lemonade over 57 days. she started at $2 a cup but then she took the price away and made the cups free. people started donating more. average donation per cup of lemonade $18. >> bill: $2 a cup of lemonade? i bought lemonade from a little girl with a little stand at the beach last summer, it was 50 cents. >> that's the going rate. >> not in california. >> bill: i gave her a buck. she was charging 50 cents. >> 50 cents, you give them $1. but $2. >> it is for charity. >> bill: i can buy a powerball

ticket for $2. >> powerball human trafficking hmm. >> bill: thank you dan. yes, indeed. hey, it was a big day at the white house yesterday. went down for the daily briefing. it was at 1:00 yesterday. it was really funny because you know, we've been giving the white house particularly jay carney and the president through jay carney a hard time about the fact it has been oh, eight weeks since anybody had a chance to throw a question to the president and that was down in cabo san lucas mexico. he hasn't had one at the white house -- i don't know, i don't even remember the last time to tell the truth. we've been putting pressure on jay carney for a presidential news conference. with no -- none scheduled. and yesterday at the briefing room, we noticed there were some extra cameras around. that's usually a sign when there are extra cameras that the word

leaks out that the president himself is going to come to the briefing. well so they announced the two-minute warning and the seats fill up and people see the cameras and there is a real buzz in the room. obama's coming. the president's coming! everybody's real ready. and the door opens and in walks jay carney by himself. and the room just went -- you could hear everybody literally -- [booing] >> bill: it was just like oh! it was an audible collective ugh! jay looked up and he laughed. he said what? you're not happy to see me. he started the briefing. and if just was a normal briefing. went through four, five, six questions or whatever. then suddenly, the door opens again and in walks -- ♪ >> bill: the president of the united states. he walked up to the podium and said jay tells me you guys miss

me. i thought i would come over and answer some questions. first, he talked about medicare. the difference between what he proposes what mitt romney and paul ryan are proposing. i'm sorry paul ryan and mitt romney are proposing to get the order correct. he did take some questions. one of the first questions he got was about todd akin and his remarks about legitimate rape and women's bodies just know when they've been raped and know to reject that sperm so they could never get pregnant. what an idiotic thing to say as president obama quickly jumped on. >> the views expressed were offensive. rape is rape. >> bill: rape is rape. couldn't have said it any clearer. the president said the last thing we ought to be doing is what -- by the way not just todd akin but even paul ryan have been doing which is tried to redefine rape. >> obama: the idea that we should be parsing and qualifying

and slicing what types of rape we're talking about doesn't make sense to the american people. >> bill: doesn't make sense. it is offensive. it is disgusting. but a point i made in the last hour and i'm sure we'll hear from ellie and donna todd akin is not alone. this is the republican party's position. todd akin is the face of the republican party on this issue. and paul ryan is his cosponsor of all of that legislation. attempting to redefine rape in the united states house of congress. house of representatives. will you see todd akin, you see paul ryan, when you see paul ryan, you see mitt romney. that's why the republicans are so angry at todd akin because he exposes the republican party and its war on women. the president also talked about syria.

he was asked you know, so far i think correctly the president has resisted some reckless cries to send in the marines into syria. have a no-fly zone. bomb the hell out of aleppo and bomb the hell out of damascus. the president says so far we think there is a diplomatic solution. there is one line he won't let president assad cross. >> obama: a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized. that would change my calculus. >> bill: if any sign that they're planning on using those chemical weapons that they've got, a storehouse of chemical weapons they've got, the president says we would take military action. on todd akin and on syria, president obama speaking out yesterday. 1-866-55-press. he was also asked again about -- negative the negative tone of this campaign.

i mean you have demanded that president -- that presidential candidate mitt romney release his tax returns. isn't that terrible? isn't that a personal attack? president obama says no way. >> obama: there is a difference between playing by the same set of rules and doing something illegal. in no way have we suggested the latter. >> bill: no. he says we've just suggested that he should release his tax returns the same set of rules every other candidate running for president in the last 30 years has abided by. and precedent set by his father. when he ran for president. as to that -- the ad put out by the super pac priorities u.s.a. supporting president obama where the steelworker says he lost his job, lost his healthcare, his wife got diagnosed with cancer and she subsequently died, president obama said hey listen that wasn't run by my campaign but mitt romney meanwhile is himself endorsing

and his campaign is running ads claiming that president obama would end the requirement that people move from welfare to work and he said that's just an outright lie and everybody knows it is a lie but mitt romney keeps running that ad and he's gotta be held responsible for that. president obama. >> obama: the contrast is pretty stark. they can run it if they want but the truth of the matter is you can't just make stuff up. that's one thing you learn as president of the united states. >> bill: you can't just make stuff up which is a nice way of saying you can't just get throughout and lie through your teeth. that's exactly what mitt romney is doing. again, his ad approved by him. his voice on it. with an outright lie about barack obama and what he does then -- pardon me -- romney, rather than defend that ad orú

pull that ad, he's attacking president obama for an ad that obama -- the obama campaign did not produce. the obama campaign did not pay for. that president obama did not approve. and an ad that only ran once on television and that was by accident when a local television station played it when they shouldn't have. so this idea that the obama campaign is running some kind of negative campaign, the worst campaign we've ever seen is absolute pure nonsense. i thought the president did a good job of putting that down yesterday. his comments on todd akin. his comments on syria. his comments on the ads. your calls welcome at 1-866-55-press. it is tuesday august 21. >> announcer: radio meets television. the "bill press show." now on current tv.

>>oh really? >>"if you ever raise taxes on >>the rich, you're going to destroy our economy." not true!

we have a big, big hour and the i.q. will go way up. how are you ever going to solve the problem if you don't look at all of the pieces? >>tv and radio talk show host stephanie miller rounds out current's morning news block. >>you're welcome current tv audience for the visual candy. >>sharp tongue, quick whit and above all, politically direct. >>you just think there is no low they won't go to. oh, no. if al gore's watching today...

[ ♪ theme ♪ ] >> announcer: this is the "bill press show." >> announcer: heard around the country and seen on current tv, this is the "bill press show." >> bill: 26 minutes after the hour. tuesdays with judd. judd legum from think progress starting in the next segment here of the "full court press." right now, taking your calls president obama's comments yesterday about todd akin and syria and the accusations by the romney campaign that the obama operation is running a nasty dirty campaign ain't true compared to the lies romney is saying. william is calling from st. petersburg florida.

william, good morning. >> caller: good morning, bill. thanks for letting me get in. >> bill: glad you're there. >> caller: just wanted to say that i understand why they're putting so much pressure on akin. but i mean he just simply articulated what all of them stand for. >> bill: absolutely. >> caller: saying -- they're trying to say obama is being so negative. all i see the negativity coming from the other side. >> bill: yeah, on that first point, that's why they're angry at todd akin. they're not angry because they disagree with what he said. they're just angry that he said it out loud, right? >> caller: exactly. i'm kind of upset because i've always supported -- i've been a lifelong democrat but i supported a lot of republicans over the years from charlie crist to our former mayor to a lot of people around here but as long as i see decent people sitting back and letting the right wing take over, i could never vote for a republican again.

>> bill: republican party -- the republican party has changed a lot, william. it is now the extreme tea party. no doubt about it. thanks for your call. leroy is calling from key west, florida. hey, leroy, good morning. >> caller: good morning. >> bill: you're lucky to live in such a beautiful place. go ahead. >> caller: i love it. i like to know why are they so down on akin and giving paul ryan a free pass on this. >> bill: good question. i gotta tell you, they should not be giving -- i haven't given paul ryan a free pass on this. let me repeat a point i've made already a couple of times this morning. todd akin had a big ally in the house on everything he wanted to do. every time he wanted to define, redefine rape. his ally was paul ryan. they cosponsored that legislation. when you see todd akin, you see paul ryan. when you see paul ryan, you see mitt romney. >> announcer: this is the "bill

press show." >>i jump out of my skin at people when i'm upset. do you share the sense of outrage that they're doing this, this corruption based on corruption based on corruption. >>i think that's an understatement, eliot. u>> i'm not prone tot. understatement, so explain to me why that is. i think the mob learned from wall st., not vice versa.

>> announcer: this is the "full court press." the "bill press show." live on your radio and current tv. >> bill: 33 minutes after the hour on this tuesday august 21. it is the "full court press." coming to you live from our nation's capital and our studio on capitol hill. today, an important day for many reasons. one of them is that the paperback edition of "the obama hate machine" is now out. if you didn't get the hard cover or if you bought the hard cover and want to buy half a dozen paperbacks for your friends you liked it so much, now is your chance. you can get it at your local bookstore but also if you want a

personalized copy, a signed copy, we can get it out to you the book, mailing postage mailer for $16.99. you tell us how you want it signed. i will do so. i won't ask any questions about any of the impropriety of anything you might want as a salutation to one of your friends. you tell me and i'll write it in there for $16.99. we've been talking about todd akin. 5:00 today is the deadline. if he just says i don't want to continue, he can do so. he says he's staying in the race. a lot of pressure for him to get out of the race. we're going to get back and talk all dimensions of this. it is tuesday. tuesdays with judd. judd legum from think progress -- head of think progress. hello, judd. nice to see you again. >> good to be back here with you. >> bill: let's start out first of all. republicans are upset about todd

akin. i think because they care more about winning that senate seat than about women's health. but at any rate, we know that, as you have first reported, todd akin is not alone in the house of representatives on a lot of these issues. his partner has been paul ryan. right? >> yeah. there's a policy that kind of underlies the type of things that akin was saying. certainly most people aren't out there saying the things he thinks publicly. but paul ryan, akin, number of other very conservative republicans are behind a couple of different bills that were out there. they were behind a bill that became -- it was a big controversy in 2011. essentially, there is an exception -- normally, you can't get an abortion under federal funding for healthcare but there is a rape exception.

and the idea behind this bill was to kind of carve that up a little bit. and say well, there's an exception for forceable rape. which is actually what akin yesterday went on the radio went on mike huckabee's show and said well, actually, that's what i meant to say was forcible rape. and we're going to give an exception for that kind of rape and then there's another category of rape that's not forcible. no one really knows -- this term isn't really defined in a legal sense. >> bill: what is it? what is it? when is rape not forcible? >> well, you know, there is a concept of statutory rape. we have a word for that. it is called statutory rape. there is a word for that and then there's rape. and this is creating another category whether it be forcible and presumably nonforcible. >> bill: ridiculous.

his partner in that again was paul ryan. >> paul ryan was one of the original cosponsors of the bill. now, eventually, because there was a pretty big outcry, they did have to amend the bill. and take that out. because it became so controversial. but this idea of slicing and dicing the concept of rape, you know, akin did it. really in -- when he talked about legitimate rape. >> bill: he's not the first one to do this. they've been trying to do it for a long time. >> exactly. it goes back to a fundamental belief that ryan holds as well. that there shouldn't be a rape exception. and it is not just -- ryan has been pretty explicit about it. but even mitt romney who if you went to his campaign, you called up his campaign spokesperson would say oh, well, he believes and the ticket believes in a

rape exception. happy to support human life amendment which wouldn't have a rape exception. and also supports the state personhood exemptions which would -- personhood amendments to state constitutions we saw one in mississippi. all over the place. which would not only provide no exceptions for abortion restrictions but also would ban a lot of forms of birth control. >> bill: and again that resolution was authored, was cosponsored in the house of representatives by todd akin and by paul ryan. >> yeah. exactly. and that would be the federal version of this to make personhood sort of the law of the land across all countries. so there's a history to this. it wasn't just 15 seconds of putting his foot in his mouth. >> bill: the first point we've learned from think progress, great work, judd is todd akin is

not some loner out there. some looney toon. todd akin is the face of the republican party and his close partner in all of these things and in all of the disgusting things he believes is paul ryan. the second thing you've reported is that todd akin may be getting condemned by scott brown and john cornyn but there are a lot of conservative republicans who have come out in support -- after making these comments, to support todd akin, right? family research council. tony perkins says he's still our guy. >> called it gotcha politics. and interestingly paul ryan is going to be -- scheduled to appear at the faith and family conference that's coming up. it is basically put on by a number of groups including the family research council. you know, there are a lot of republicans who this is the kind of thing they want to hear. and have been supporting him.

and i think, you know, as you read in "the new york times," i think that there is a lot of support maybe for not exactly the words that he said. maybe they're willing to concede that yes, this was pretty offensive the way he said it. but the policy behind it, the thought behind it, what's motivating it, there is a constituency out there for it. >> bill: i quoted "the new york times" this morning quotes sharon bans in missouri -- barnes a missourian who thinks todd akin should stay on the ticket, stay there as a candidate. she supports what he says. she agrees with him. that very few rapes result in pregnancy. very few, she says. and if at that point god has chosen to bless this person with a life, then she says, you don't kill it and she is sure that the people of missouri will recognize "what a great

conservative godly man todd akin is and they'll put his comment in its proper context." so again todd akin is just speaking for these right wing conservatives. >> you have to remember how he got this nomination. all the people who are trying to force him out yesterday now today, i'm sure it will be even more intense -- >> bill: supported it. >> they did not support him initially for the nomination. they have been supporting him in the last several weeks. but until he got that nomination, they didn't want him. they wanted sally steel and one of the other candidates. they were pretty split which was part of the reason why he ended up with it. but these folks the woman who was quoted in "the new york times," some of the other folks they were his core supporters in the primary. and so when now they're coming to him and saying hey get out. he doesn't really owe them anything. they were never -- he wasn't their guy in the first place.

so this is his base of support and if that stays strong, the question is he going to listen to these folks who never really had selected him as their person. >> bill: one of the other -- aspects of this story which i congratulate you again for picking up on is if you wanted to know what was happening on todd akin yesterday all you had to do was tune into fox news, right? >> well, not exactly. and you know, this is one of the things when one of these stories comes up, you always wonder how is fox going to deal with it? >> bill: how did they deal with it? >> they dealt with it essentially by going -- virtually no reporting at all through noon yesterday. as it was being played repeatedly -- >> bill: fox and friends never talked about it. >> no. never talked about it. it was lobbed as a one sort of

softball question to karl rove at one point i think about 9:30 a.m. >> bill: i might add without pointing out that at that point karl rove had already put about $500,000 or more, about $900,000 in support of todd akin in missouri right? and didn't mention that conflict, that total conflict. they have karl rove on who's given the guy a million dollars talking about the todd akin thing. identifying his role in missouri. >> they bring karl rove on as an analyst. it is a complete joke. it is like bringing on barack obama to provide analysis of the state of the race as if he's a neutral party. and as if he can speak to this in some sort of way that's objective. he's a big player and he has a right to be. but he's a big player in the race. that's the other interesting thing is they're trying to force

akin out of the race. by saying we're going to pull all of this money. we're going to pull all of this support. but i think here's probably what akin is thinking. if i stay in the race and the polls are reasonably close and we're getting down to election day and i could have -- i might have an impact on what the break-up of the senate is, are all of these folks really going to -- are really going to abandon me? are they really not going to put in some money? my guess is what he's thinking and i bet he was right is they will be back. >> stephanie: you are absolutely right. i believe that as well. if he hangs in there they're going -- it looks like claire mccaskill can win they'll pump all of the money in again. they'll do it because they want the senate seat and they'll also do it because fundamentally they believe todd akin. they won't say it publicly like he did. they believe exactly the same stuff. we're here. tuesdays with judd.

judd legum on the "full court press." todd akin, should he get out today or is it best for democrats that he stay in there just to expose the republican war on women? your calls at 1-866-55-press. we'll be right back. >> announcer: heard around the country and seen on current tv, this is the "bill press show." dose of politics from a fresh perspective. >>i'm a slutty bob hope. the troops love me. >>only on current tv.

when a carpet is clean and fresh, it's irresistible. experience this in your home with resolve deep clean powder. its moist powder penetrates deep, removing three times more dirt than vacuuming alone

while also neutralizing odors at their source. it's a clean you can see smell, and really enjoy. resolve deep clean powder. don't just vacuum clean, resolve clean. >> we talk a lot about the influence of money in politics.

it is the defining issue of this era. the candidate with the most money does win. this is a national crisis. >> announcer: this is the "full court press." >> announcer: this is the "bill press show." >> bill: 12 minutes to go before the top of the hour. in the next hour, eleanor smeal founder of the feminist majority

will be in studio with us as a "friend of bill." we will be joined by congresswoman donna edwards and you bet the two of them will have something to say about todd akin. right now judd legum is here. the editor in chief of think progress. judd, you mentioned when we were off the air that todd akin is quickly out with an apology ad which is running this morning in missouri. here's -- boy he's just about -- as an ject as he can get. begging forgiveness. >> i'm todd akin and i approve this message. rape is an evil act. i used the wrong words in the wrong way and for that. >> i apologize. as the father of two daughters i want tough justice for predators. the fact is, rape could lead to pregnancy. the truth is rape has many victims. the mistake i made was in the

words i said. not in the heart i hold. i ask for your forgiveness. >> bill: what a twerp. >> i have sinned against you oh, lord. >> bill: jimmy swaggart is back. you gotta admit if he hadn't stepped on his you know what sunday, he wouldn't have made that ad and he would still be sponsoring the legislation in the united states congress, right? >> i don't think he says -- has any plans to change his views. basically, i guess what he's saying -- >> bill: my words got me in trouble. >> basically, what he's saying -- didn't say this initially. he was more circumsect. we should give him credit for this that yes, a woman who is raped can get pregnant. but that's really all he's saying. >> bill: right. >> he's not really saying anything else as far as what kind of policies he would support. >> bill: or what rights she should have over her own body. >> bill: do you think -- this is a question for everybody

listening and everybody watching. do you think the people of missouri are going to buy this bunk? >> well, i think the ad, i think is very carefully targeted. he talks about forgiveness which i think is very important. >> bill: they can say anything they want. they'll forgive them. bs. >> he's trying to shore up the base of supporters, you know. and i think that you know, that's what he's trying to do. this is probably -- you know, his real challenge now is going to be how to keep his campaign going financially. because it was already he was never a prolific fund-raiser. he was already basically relying -- >> bill: you know what? a lot of extreme tea party right wing evangelical christians around the country who will send him money. let's say hello to lou from grand junction, colorado. hello, lou, good morning.

>> caller: hello, bill. nice to talk to you. >> bill: thank you. >> caller: i think that the women of the republican party and i am not one of them but i think they should get that man and throw him out. physically throw him out. that's what they need to do. have you noticed that we haven't heard from larry mo and curly aka lieberman mccain and graham? they haven't spoken up yet. at all. and neither has blunt. what's his problem? since when did he have -- >> bill: there are a lot of republicans who hasn't spoken up. very good point lou. but you know i think a lot of republican women are not going to get together and bodily throw him out because too many republican women believe this crap. extreme right-wingers. abortion, no exceptions. that's their policy. that's paul ryan's policy. >> well, it's gonna be written in -- they leave it a little bit

ambiguous in the platform. essentially written into the republican platform as the official policy of the party. >> bill: no exception. >> will be essentially the human life amendment to the constitution. which would essentially you know give all the rights of a human to you know to a fetus or prior to that. and doesn't -- doesn't list out any -- >> bill: exceptions at all. >> exceptions at all. and that's likely to be in the republican platform. so you know, this is something that has -- essentially is the mainstream view of the republican party. >> bill: that's an excellent point. again, thank you for that. because so we hear all of this outrage now from all of these republicans like john cornyn and mitch mcconnell and everything. the rubber hits the road a week

from now when they get to tampa and they adopt their platform and no matter all of the cries about race or akin, we'll see how they vote on that platform when they get to tampa which in its present form will basically embrace and endorse everything that todd akin has said. you hear that music. we're out of time. it always goes too fast. >> too fast. >> bill: thank you so much for coming in. we'll see you again next week. great work as always. think progress. thinkprogress.org. check it out. we do many times a day. >> announcer: heard around the country and seen on current tv, this is the "bill press show."

(vo) cenk uygur is many things. >>oh really? >>"if you ever raise taxes on >>the rich, you're going to destroy our economy." not true! [ ♪ theme ♪ ]

>> announcer: this is the "bill >> announcer: this is the "bill press show." >> bill: 10 minutes majority president eleanor smeal and congresswoman donna edwards both in studio in the next hour on todd akin. expect fireworks. president obama, big surprise yesterday coming to the briefing. briefing room for our daily briefing. and answering a few questions. today, he's back on the road to -- on the campaign trail i should say. first to ohio going out to columbus ohio. remember that's where he kicked off the campaign. i was there with him when he did so. he will be in columbus, ohio. then he heads out to reno, nevada. ohio and nevada, two key states. the president is not taking anything for granted. he's going to win both states because he's working the hell out of both of them. no briefing at the white house today. josh ernest will gaggle on air force i. we'll be back with more "full court press."

[ ♪ theme ♪ ] >> bill: good morning everybody. happy tuesday. it is tuesday august 21. good to see you today. welcome to the "full court press." here on current tv where we'll bring you up to date on all of the news of the day and take your calls at 1-866-55-press. lots going on. president obama having a briefing yesterday where he warned syria that we have any sign they're going to use chemical weapons the united states military are going to be in your country. so watch out! the biggest news may be here at home is republican senate candidate in missouri todd akin

has until 5:00ed to drop out of the race because of his comments about legitimate rape. a lot of republicans want him out. i hope he stays in because todd akin is the face of the republican party's war on women. we'll get into that with eleanor smeal and donna edwards but first, here we go. to los angeles and lisa ferguson for today's current news update. hi lisa. good morning. >> hi, bill. good morning everyone. republicans are gearing up for another tough anti-abortion stance in this year's party platform. g.o.p. members want a human life amendment to the constitution aiming to outlaw abortion without any special cases for rape or incest. that is the word from cnn who got a look at the document late yesterday. it extends the 14th amendment right to life to all unborn children and forbids the government from funding healthcare that covers abortion. the republican platform committee will need to approve the draft today before sending

it to rnc delegates next week. and another loss for voting rights advocate, the justice department has approved virginia's new voter i.d. law. virginia governor bob mcdonnell says protecting against voter fraud is critical to democracy. but out of millions of votes cast over the last 12 years we have seen just ten cases of fraud. and of course, we know laws like these routinely disenfranchise democratic voters. 37 states are considering new voter i.d. laws. all pushed through by republicans and a state judge just approved the new i.d. law in pennsylvania. mitt romney is gaining an even bigger cash advantage over the president. team obama has $127 million as of the end of july and romney is sitting on $186 million. that is thanks largely to the deep pockets of romney's super pac donors and the president's burning through his cash faster

than he can fund raise spending $10 million more than he raised last month. back with more bill. stay with us. >> this court has proven to be the knowing, delighted accomplice in the billionaires' purchase of our nation. >> and you think it doesn't affect you? think again. i look at her, and i just want to give her everything. yeah you -- you know, everything can cost upwards of...[ whistles ] i did not want to think about that. relax, relax, relax. look at me, look at me. three words, dad -- e-trade financial consultants. so i can just go talk to 'em? just walk right in and talk to 'em. dude those guys are pros. they'll hook you up with a solid plan. they'll -- wa-- wa-- wait a minute. bobby? bobby! what are you doing, man? i'm speed dating!

[ male announcer ] get investing advice for your family at e-trade. we know that back to school time means back to school germs. that's why lysol partners with schools all across the country providing resources designed to help teach healthy habits. so make sure you add lysol no touch hand soap and lysol wipes to your "back to school" list. that way, the healthy habits they learn in school will reinforce the good habits you've already taught them at home. to learn more, visit lysol.com/schools.

lysol. mission for health.

[ ♪ theme ♪ ] >> announcer: broadcasting across the nation on your radio >> announcer: broadcasting across the nation on your radio and on current tv, this is the "bill press show." >> bill: todd akin, he has until 5:00ed to get out of the race in missouri. republicans, a lot of them want him out. i want him to stay in because he represents -- he is the face of the republican party's war on women. hey, hello everybody. what do you say? good morning. good to see you today on the "full court press." we're coming to you live all the way across this great land of ours, of course on the local progressive talk radio station but also on current tv. good to have you with us. and whether you're watching or

listening, don't forget you can just add a lot of life to your experience by going to our chat room. go to current.com and join the chat room and join all of the thousands of "full court pressers" across the land, talk about the issues among yourselves as we're talking about them here on radio and television. good to see you today. and we'll take your calls at 1-866-55-press. so happy to welcome back into the studio a good friend of the program, she is on fire this morning about todd akin's remarks, eleanor smeal is the founder and president of the feminist majority. hi, ellie, nice to see you this morning. >> nice seeing you. >> bill: we'll get into it. as you point out he's not the first one. >> no, no. he's not the first republican politician to claim somehow if you're raped a woman's body rejects a pregnancy which there's no truth to obviously. >> bill: we'll get into this. let's say hello first to our team. peter ogborn and dan henning and

cyprian bowlding our videographer. we'll take your calls again at 1-866-55-press. and we'll be joined in just a little bit by congresswoman donna edwards. great team here this morning. eleanor smeal and donna edwards and she is also on fire about todd akin's remarks. we'll see whether or not she thinks he should stay in the race. first, quick headlines out of the way here. >> other headlines making news on this tuesday. long known for only allowing male members augusta national golf club in augusta georgia has made a historic move admitting its first two female members. for the first time since -- they've been open since 1932. >> bill: is eleanor smeal one of the members? >> no. somehow they missed me. >> how is your golf game? >> only took two. >> bill: only two. >> the club known best for hosting the masters yesterday invited former secretary of state condoleezza rice and businesswoman darla moore into

membership. they'll be the first females wearing the green jackets. >> bill: only about $150,000 to join. >> right. >> bill: what do you think of this? >> we picketed it. i was down there picketing. and i don't know. they're so far behind the times it is just ridiculous. >> bill: martha burke led the fight. good for her. >> if i know martha, she's fighting -- how about some female golf players. isn't that what it is really about. >> bill: eventually, i would hope. are they allowed to play in the nationals? >> in the masters? the masters is a pga thing. >> but there's never been a woman playing there. >> lpga tournament. >> lpga tournament there. >> they're afraid to let us in. we might start winning. [ laughter ] >> the 62-year-old woman attempting to become the first

woman to swim from cuba to florida without a shark cage ended that attempt this morning. diana was pulled from the water after her lips and tongue became too swole ton continue puffing up because of salt water and jellyfish stings. her crew of 63 people helping her on this journey. she didn't get quite halfway. >> bill: oh. that's been her goal and this is what? third or fourth? >> this is her third time in the -- since last summer. she's been trying since the 1970s. something tells me she's not done yet. >> it might be okay to give up on your dream if your dream is to swim this and you can't. she didn't even make it halfway this time. >> bill: she's made it a lot further than i did. >> she made it a lot further than i would have ever done. >> quite the meal for the kids. at the first children's state dinner at the white house yesterday. michelle obama praising the kids for their recipes. each one attending submitted a

winning healthy recipe to win the trip to washington as part of the let's move anti-obesity campaign. "the huffington post" reports the white house chef prepared six of the kids' recipes including cabbage sloppy joes. >> perfect for kids. >> bill: sloppy joes aren't bad. >> cabbage sloppy joes? >> has to be healthy. >> is it a meatless sloppy joe? >> baked zucchini fries and a strawberry banana fruit smoothie >> baked zucchini fries i can get behind. kids would eat that. the black bean salad lots of luck! enjoy trying to feed that to a kid. >> bill: guess who crashed the party. >> the president crashed the party. president obama crashed the party. he wasn't invited. he came in unannounced like he came into the briefing room yesterday unannounced and here he was in the state dining room. >> obama: i heard that there was a state dinner going on here.

[ laughter ] and usually i get invited to the state dinners. so this time i decided to crash it. >> bill: all right dan. thank you. so ellie i want to start with a new ad that the -- that's being heard this morning. by the residents of missouri. this is todd akin. okay. here is his flat out apology. let's listen to it. >> i'm todd akin and i approve this message. rape is an evil act. i used the wrong words and the wrong way and for that, i apologize. as the father two of daughters i want to tough justice for predators. i have a compassionate heart for the victims of sexual assault and i pray for them. the fact is rape could lead to pregnancy. the truth is rape has many victims. the mistake i made was in the words i said, not in the heart i hold. i ask for your forgiveness. >> you think it will work? >> it isn't the words he said.

it is what -- his ignorance. he believed that you couldn't get pregnant if it was a legitimate rape. he was trying to separate out rapes. this is not just words. he cosponsored legislation that wanted to separate rapes from -- forcible rape from other rapes to imply that if it's not forcible however you're going to describe that, you aren't really raped. and what does that mean? >> bill: notice in this 30 seconds here, he doesn't say i'm changing my policy. >> no, no. >> bill: or we should now allow -- i realize now we should allow an exception for rape. he's not changing anything at all. >> he doesn't even admit that he was wrong in substance. remember, he said you couldn't -- essentially get raped. that it was a rare occurrence. it is tens of thousands in our own country. and when you're raped.

he's not changing policies. he's been backing a human life amendment that has no exceptions for rape or incest. he's been backing the personhood amendment that only -- not only has no exceptions for rape or incest but would outlaw the birth control pills the iud in vitro fertilization and worst of all because they want to give personhood to fertilized eggs, say you have cancer and you're a woman, would you be denied the medical treatment because it could hurt the pregnancy? in other words they really -- the woman doesn't exist. he says he has compassion. well let's put his actions pull the legislation. stop passing legislation deciding whether women will live or die on your ideology. >> bill: the other misconception i think out today is that everybody -- especially all of the republican voices, right, are dumping on todd akin

as if he were alone in saying this. he's not, is he? >> no, no, no. all of the measures have been cosponsored. the human life amendment has been adopted as the party platform. they're suggesting it again this year. the personhood amendment. romney has been for. ryan cosponsored it with akin. in the united states congress. this is not words. this is actions. they haven't cared about women for political gain. they have sponsored right wing, constantly more and more extreme legislation, outlawing family planning defunding planned parenthood. no birth control funding. i mean come on. compassion for women? i hardly think so. >> bill: it didn't start with todd akin, did it? >> no. >> bill: this attempt to, as the president said yesterday to parse, to redefine to slice and dice the definition did not start with akin. it has been going on for a long time. >> absolutely. not only that, we just fought --

we just changed the federal law that they just had forcible rape. i don't know if you knew that in the uniform crime statistics. and with obama's administration and with our fighting for it, we changed it last year to drop the word forcible. but they want it in. they want to go back to the '20s. 1920s, that is. a century ago. when women really were accused for being raped. >> bill: and so this -- i mean when you talk about a republican war on women that's not an exaggeration, is it? sadly. >> it isn't. that's why we started the terminology. we were one of the groups that started it in 2004. they keep introducing more and more punitive legislation against women. i mean and i mean punitive legislation. how dare them to introduce measures, no rape for any reason. no exceptions. what? she doesn't exist?

she's just a vessel? her life, her health matters. they don't even put exceptions in there for the health of the woman. her health doesn't matter. her being doesn't matter. why? what are they doing? they show their machoism -- i don't believe this is conservatism by the way. this is active reactionaries. based on false science you know. they make fun of scientists. then they -- when he gets caught with this extreme statement he said some doctors told him. thank goodness the american college of o. about. go. why. in disowned the statement and said it was absolutely flat out wrong scientifically. >> bill: they came out right away and the last study i saw was in 1996 when they said however many rapes there are in the united states, there were 32,000 pregnancies that resulted from -- so who these

quote-unquote doctors are that tell them that a woman's body somehow knows a -- can distinguish a friendly sperm from an unfriendly sperm. it is idiotic. >> it is also mean-spirited and dangerous to women because if you get pregnant, then you really wanted it. then it is your fault. you see what i mean? it is constantly accusing the woman. that's what the old-fashioned thing was. if you were raped, you had to go on the stand to prove it was a rape rather than the victim -- i mean the predator being on trial. half the time it was the victim. >> bill: just to show you that todd akin, first of all, there are a lot of conservatives family research council has come out since sunday and said he's our man. he's our man. we still love him. we stand behind him. here, "new york times" quotes this morning sharon barnes is a member of the republican central committee in missouri.

so she's one of the ones who will make a decision, you know. and she's totally behind todd akin. she says this... she agrees very few rapes result in pregnancy. she said. and if, at that point god has chosen to bless this person with a life, you don't kill it. and she's convinced that the people of missouri will learn what a great conservative, godly man todd akin is. a woman saying that. >> those are extreme viewpoints and what's happened is the republican primary has been taken over by radical extremists. because remember, it is their primary. let's be real. they can't get through the primary. about 15% of the public votes in these primaries for republicans so with 8% of the vote, gingrich pointed that out years ago. you have a determined, small little band of idea logs what

are controlling one of the two parties and when they're caught in public, that's what just happened. ryan and romney were flat out caught in public. banish him. they got a whole party like this right now. they're running on a platform that's going to have extreme statements. >> bill: and set as you pointed out judd legum told us in the last hour. in tampa the republican party the human life amendment. >> that's right. >> bill: which contains no exceptions -- >> for rape or incest. >> bill: so all of the voices that you hear today john cornyn mitch mcconnell scott brown, all of those guys saying he ought to get out of the race. these are the same people. we'll watch and see but a week from now in tampa we'll adopt a party platform that is word for word what todd akin just said. >> except for his ignorance over the way he said it. but it is even worse than that.

romney and ryan have both come out with their own mouth and actions for life begins at the moment of conception or fertilization. what does that mean? that goes worse than just abortion. it would ban most of the pills birth control pills. the iud. in vitro fertilization. and medical treatments for seriously ill women. these folks don't even know what they're standing for. they just want to be politically correct and if women's lives are hanging in the balance they fall by the wayside -- they don't care. >> bill: eleanor smeal in studio with us. if you want to weigh in on this, 1-866-55-press. donna edwards coming up to join us in just about ten minutes from now. we'll be right back. >> announcer: this is the "full court press." the "bill press show," live on

your radio and on current tv. people when i'm upset. they're doing this this corruption based on corruption based on corruption. >>that's an understatement, eliot.

when a carpet is clean and fresh, it's irresistible. experience this in your home with resolve deep clean powder. its moist powder penetrates deep, removing three times more dirt than vacuuming alone while also neutralizing odors at their source. it's a clean you can see smell, and really enjoy. resolve deep clean powder. don't just vacuum clean, resolve clean.

>> we talk a lot about the influence of money in politics. it is the defining issue of this era. the candidate with the most money does win. this is a national crisis.

>> announcer: this is the "bill press show." live on your radio and current tv. >> bill: joe cirincione is our >> announcer: radio meets television, the "bill press show." now on current tv. >> bill: coming to you both on radio and television here. the "full court press." the founder and president of the feminist majority eleanor smeal in studio with us. ellie, yesterday i was at the white house for our regular daily briefing and surprise, surprise, about ten minutes into the briefing, door opens and in walks the president of the united states. he took questions and one of the first questions was about todd

akin's remarks. the president just flat out said let's stop trying to slice and dice this. here he is quickly. >> obama: the views expressed were offensive. rape is rape. >> bill: end of story. >> that's it. the feminists have been saying that for years. that is the law of the land pretty much now. they're trying to define themselves away because when caught, they don't want to look like -- they have to have an excuse for this no exception rule. wait until they deal with the word incest. how about a 10-year-old raped by a father. >> bill: depends on whether it is forcible or not. >> right. >> bill: i want to say hello quickly to mike from kansas city. hi mike. >> caller: hi, eleanor and crew. yes, i'm from kansas city. i want to say i called all of my representatives the other day and said tar and feather that -- take him out of our state and our country. i was so offended. but what i want to draw is a religious parallel.

these guys are supposed to be religious and all of this stuff. well yeah, maybe in the old testament. i look at it as a love, hate, good, evil because the old testament i thought was hate and all of that. what are they trying to do? take this to the taliban level of thinking? where it is hey stone the woman because she was raped. >> bill: mike, just on that point only in the interest of time, i want to give ellie a chance to comment before we break in about 15 seconds. >> he's right. that's exactly where you're going. if something happens like that, it is the woman's fault. it is adultery, stone her to death. obviously he didn't say that. it is an ignorant attitude that is not -- it doesn't fit in the modern world that we know. >> bill: yeah, when you think about it, i know i got in trouble for saying this. they're like -- they are the american taliban in terms of their treatment of women. >> treatment of women. they're so insensitive. >> bill: that's it. we'll be back with donna ed

wards. >> announcer: this is the "bill press show." i.q. will go way up. how are you ever going to solve the problem if you don't look at all of the pieces? >>tv and radio talk show host stephanie miller rounds out current's morning news block. >>you're welcome current tv audience for the visual candy. >>sharp tongue, quick whit and above all, politically direct. >>you just think there is no low they won't go to. oh, no. if al gore's watching today... what's my secret for sunday lunch? my little helpers... and 100% natural french's yellow mustard. it has zero calories for me,

and a taste my family loves. nah, he's probably got... [ dennis' voice ] allstate. they can bundle all your policies together. lot of paperwork. [ doug's voice ] actually... [ dennis' voice ] an allstate agent can help do the switching and paperwork for you. well, it probably costs a lot. [ dennis' voice ] allstate can save you up to 30% more when you bundle. well, his dog's stupid. [ dennis' voice ] poodles are one of the world's smartest breeds. ♪ ♪ bundle and save with an allstate agent. are you in good hands?

>> announcer: this is the "full >> announcer: radio meets television, the "bill press show." now on current tv. >> bill: 33 minutes after the hour now. here we are tuesday, august 21. it is the "full court press" coming to you live on your local progressive talk radio station and on current tv across the land. eleanor smeal president of the feminist majority in studio with us this hour as a "friend of bill". and now joining us, even though they're on recess, she's still working hard. congresswoman from maryland, representing maryland's fourth congressional district, our good friend congresswoman donna

edwards. >> i'm a "friend of bill" too. >> bill: you are. you got me. two friends of bill in studio. >> you're outnumbered today. >> bill: i am indeed. i think we found out who's in charge. congresswoman, we've been talking about todd akin's remarks. i think everybody has heard them. just to show how outrageous they were. here he is again sunday morning on television. >> it seems to me first of all from what i understand from doctors, that's really rare. if it is a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to shut that whole thing down. but let's assume maybe that didn't work or something. i think there should be some punishment but the punishment ought to be in the rapist and not attacking the child. >> bill: outrageous, unscientific stupid, dumb, whatever you call it. but congresswoman the headlines this morning republicans are pressuring the senate candidate to quit the missouri race.

you're in the congress. serving with a lot of these republicans is. todd akin the only one who believes this? >> no, he's not. he expressed in religious or ridiculous words, no relation to biology or humanity what is the sentiment that's embedded in the republican agenda. i think that that is the take away here. that they can get rid of todd akin in the missouri senate race but they can't get rid of the agenda that has been a consistent part of the republican agenda, at least all of the congress and certainly before every vote that's been taken. legislative language signed on to not just by the todd akins of the world but the republican party and paul ryan on that romney/ryan ticket. they can't run away from this. it is embedded in their agenda. >> bill: this is the republican war on women. right? >> well, it is. it goes so deep.

it is obviously about healthcare choices that we make about our own bodies as women. but they couldn't even get through violence against women act that does justice to women that provides the major support and services for women who -- and others who are victims of rape. and so it goes to the heart of the republican agenda. it is not a made-up war on women. every single day in this congress and certainly throughout this election cycle we can see that it isn't just a made up war on women. it is a real war and the battle lines are drawn. and mitt romney and paul ryan stand shoulder to shoulder with todd akin and house and senate republicans. >> bill: todd akin under missouri law has no mess, no fuss until 5:00 today to drop out of the senate race. should he stay in it or should he quit the race, congresswoman? >> well, he won their nomination. and the people of missouri, the

republicans of missouri spoke and chose him to lead their fight in the senate against our incumbent senator claire mccaskill. so it is up to him to decide whether to stay or go. and in my view, it doesn't matter because you know, the words are one thing and he's apologized for those sort of. but the reality is that this was part of the republican agenda. it is part of the republican platform. the words he expressed were ill-conceived, not related to science or biology inhumane but the policies themselves go to the heart of the republican agenda. so does it matter whether he stays or goes? they can't run away from this. >> absolutely. they can't run away from it. if the public knew the entire truth of what they've been advocating come on. their position on medicaid would throw 40,000 women out into the street. people in nursing homes. i mean ryan's budget is inhumane

toward poor people, toward women. toward dealing with just healthcare basic healthcare. but it is across the board. and romney has endorsed all of those positions. >> bill: so where you see todd akin, you see paul ryan. where you see paul ryan, you see mitt romney. >> paul ryan and akin were joined at the hip on this legislation. they were cosponsors. it wasn't like ryan said i'll go along with a party line vote. he was a cosponsor. and so he can't run away from this and clearly his legislative record shows that. i'm waiting forall of the mainstream media to really dig deeply into paul ryan's legislative records. what has he cosponsored? what has he advocated apart from all of the things we know he's advocated within his budget. he's very consistent. he described himself as the most pro-life member of the

republican party and certainly his legislative agenda reflects that. but even going so far as defunding and plans to defund planned parenthood against contraception. these are basic tenants. that's not even about abortion. it is about contraception for pete's sake. paul ryan has stood in lock step with the todd akins and the rest of the very extreme republican agenda. paul ryan plays nice. he's a nice guy. he looks nice and all of those things but his agenda is not nice to women at all. >> bill: one of the points that ellie made and we never got a chance to get into it in the last segment is it is not just this todd akin statement about rape and this nonsense of legitimate rape but the war on women includes what their plans are as laid out and as approved by the republican majority on medicare, on medicaid and on trying to repeal obama care. >> and fighting the violence against women act. killing the paycheck fairness

act. fighting jobs for women. it goes on and on. it isn't one area anymore. they literally -- that's why we're using the war on women. >> whether you talk about education or healthcare and social policy, all of these have a very deep impact on women's lives, particularly women who are on their own who are raising children and so you cannot separate the agenda and the policy from the people. they're attached at the hip. >> bill: those cuts in -- which are -- first of all getting rid of medicaid which is what paul ryan does -- the cuts on medicare no matter what they say are coming even to people who are currently on the system. >> it is cuts and benefits. cuts and benefits. they're lying about the obama record. he's not cutting benefits. he was making it more efficient cutting subsidies to insurance companies. but ryan takes the $716 billion

out of benefits! >> bill: then you've got repealing obama care or the affordable care act which means no coverage for preventive care. you don't get the contraception without a co-pay and all of that kind of stuff. in all three areas those cuts adversely particularly adversely affect women. >> well, they do. i was actually with groups of senior women yesterday who realize the cuts in the ryan budget that would repeal provisions in the affordable care act in obama care, would in fact, take away their mammograms their colonoscopies their wellness exams because the savings that president obama signed on to with obama care actually go into preserving, protecting and strengthening those benefits which would all be ripped away under this budget and they do adversely impact women. women live longer. women live on their own. are incredibly connected and

dependent upon their contributions to medicare, to social security, to these things that really reinforce and strengthen their lives and their ability to take care of themselves in their old age. >> bill: so isn't it true that the reason republicans are so angry at todd akin has nothing really to do with what he said, right? it is just he let the cat out of the bag? >> well, he did. did it meow! >> bill: so now suddenly, they're exposed. >> exactly. >> bill: in front of the whole world for who they are, right. they're trying to throw him under the bus. >> they've been double talking. they've been double talking right along because you know, one minute you don't know exactly where romney is on some of the issues. we know what he signed on to. now the whole public knows how bad it is. on one issue. it gives us a chance to tell everybody the other issues they've been so extreme on.

>> bill: the nbc "wall street journal" poll is out. among women. president obama has a 15-point advantage. this poll was taken before todd akin made his comment but that's the other reason they're really angry at todd akin because they know politically this is a killer. >> and they know -- look, republicans don't get the african-american vote. they're not going to get the latino hispanic vote. they're losing women. pretty soon there's nobody left. they know women are a critical part to the path -- >> bill: dumb ass white men. >> thankfully not all of them are. >> bill: thank you. [ laughter ] all right. we've got congresswoman donna edwards, eleanor smeal from the feminist majority here in studio. we've got a little room left at the table here. give us a call at 1-866-55-press.

the big question, will todd akin drop out of the race. i think he will. he may stay in there. i wouldn't be surprised either way. should he drop out of the race and will it make any difference if he does. and what does this say about the republican party. chew on that and give us a call at 1-866-55-press. we'll be right back. >> announcer: this is the "bill press show." let's hear yours. politically direct means no b.s. just telling you what's going on in politics today. >>at the only on-line forum with a direct line to bill press. >>it's something i've been waiting for a long time. >>join the debate now.

we know that back to school time means back to school germs. that's why lysol partners with schools all across the country providing resources designed to help

teach healthy habits. so make sure you add lysol no touch hand soap and lysol wipes to your "back to school" list. that way, the healthy habits they learn in school will reinforce the good habits you've already taught them at home. to learn more, visit lysol.com/schools. lysol. mission for health. so... [ gasps ] these are sandra's "homemade" yummy, scrumptious bars. hmm? maybe. rich chocolate chips... i just wanted you to eat more fiber. chewy, oatie, gooeyness... and, and...and then the awards started coming in, and i became addicted to the fame. topped with chocolaty drizzle... and fraudulence. i'm in deep, babe. you certainly are. [ male announcer ] fiber one. fiber beyond recognition.

>> we talk a lot about the influence of money in politics. it is the defining issue of this era. the candidate with the most money does win. this is a national crisis. >> announcer: this is the "bill

press show." >> announcer: on your radio and on current tv, this is the "bill press show." >> bill: here we go. 13 minutes before the top of the hour here on this tuesday with eleanor smeal and congresswoman donna edwards in studio with us. back to their comments and your calls in just a second. but first how about this news. you hear this and you just shudder. out of phone security magazine in arizona almost 8,000 vendors, consultants guest speakers and students of the university in arizona had their personal information stolen in a data breach earlier this year. you hear a story like that and you think uh-oh. identify et theft. it is everywhere. and i better be protected against it. i am with something called life lock ultimate. i suggest you look into it and get it, too. the most comprehensive i.d. theft protection ever made. it includes your bank accounts, looks over those not just the rest of your important information. but of course, life lock can't

protect you or your bank account if you're not a member. call now. i mention press 60 for 60 risk-free days for identity theft protection. if you're not happy you give them a call and cancel within 60 days and they'll give you a full refund. see life lock.com for details and then give them a call at 800-356-5967. that number again, life lock ultimate. 1-800-356-5967. congresswoman, ellie before we get back to the calls congresswoman, last time you were in, we talked about your important role in the house in this election year of working particularly on those seats last time that went red and we think we can get them back to blue. will paul ryan on the ticket help you with that, do you believe? >> i have to tell you i've spent a lot of time with candidates across the country and i think that many of our candidates feel it gives them some clarity about

how to run in their districts especially on this issue of medicare. we actually saw that in one of our special elections earlier in the year with kathy local up in -- hokel up in new york and it was a medicare message and the idea that democrats really are the ones who are going to strengthen and protect and preserve medicare for future generations that was a winning message. i think that will be true for our candidates all the way down the balance so it is not just a national message in the presidential but it becomes a really strong message for those candidates who are running in congressional districts across the country. it really lets people know which side of the fence you're on. >> bill: ellie, i guess whether, again he stays in or gets out, the todd akin thing will certainly be fodder for democrats to use in their -- >> oh, absolutely. it will -- because ryan is cosponsored legislation with him. they're extreme legislation. and as far as the medicare and

as far as this rape controversy they're walking away from their record. >> bill: they're trying to. >> they're trying to. on medicare, let's face it. his ryan budget would end it. as we know it. they essentially are ending medicare. let's be real. >> bill: they're privatizing medicare. you make it a voucher system where you have to buy private insurance, there's no more medicare. >> there's no guaranteed benefits and they're cutting down on the benefits that the obama administration have extended on prescription drugs on all of the preventive care measures for the elderly from physical exams to immunizations you go on. cancer screenings, et cetera. there's no question. we just gotta get the word out and we cannot allow them to constantly ignore the facts. frankly, purposely mislead people. >> bill: beverly is joining us from st. david illinois. hey, beverly, what do you say?

good morning. >> caller: good morning, bill. love your show. your two lovely guests, god bless you for what you do. >> bill: all right. all right. amen to that. >> caller: this is what i think. a few weeks ago rachel maddow had a couple of clips of republicans in state houses that said that because women and minorities voted that they ruined the united states. i think all of this is a ruse. once they get -- they'll say women can't control their bodies so that means they can't vote. they're going to take away all of our rights. i believe this is what they're doing. >> bill: that may be their ultimate goal. i don't know if they're going to go that far. but there clearly is, on every front, as we've discussed -- thank you, beverly for the call -- a war on women. >> we have 12 -- >> bill: particularly when it comes to healthcare. women's health. >> that's right. i think that it is really clear. they haven't -- just look at their agenda. whether it is about repealing

obama care and frankly, there are so many provisions in obama care that really go to the heart of women's healthcare. whether it is about our reproductive health, it is making sure that we get preventive and wellness checks and things like that and so many women are actually without healthcare or they don't work in a job that provides healthcare. so this is really important to women. but even on -- look at the republican agenda when it comes to education. cutting things like pell grants and cutting back on student loans. it is women who take advantage of those. head start. our poor children who need that important head start. it is our nutrition programs that go to strengthen and feed families. it is one two three on down the line. and i'm -- you know, just really grateful that our candidates across the country and in our house races and senate races and certainly the president and vice president that can actually run an agenda that's about protecting families, strengthening working families and improving the economy in a responsible way.

>> bill: no doubt. no doubt. it is an important choice. ellie, just a quick last word. >> the word about the vote. he's not far from wrong suppressing women's vote. they target older women. this whole nonsense of i.d.s and a lot of older women don't have driver's licenses. she's right on the mark. >> bill: i'm glad you're out there fighting the good fight and you congresswoman. thank you both for coming in today are. >> thank you. >> bill: i will be back with the final parting shot here. >> announcer: this is the "bill press show." [ male announcer ] e-trade. investing unleashed.

[ voice of dennis ] ...allstate. really? i was afraid you'd have some cut-rate policy. [ kyle ] nope, i've got... [ voice of dennis ] ...the allstate value plan. it's their most affordable car insurance -- and you still get an allstate agent. i too have... [ voice of dennis ]...allstate. [ roger ] same agent and everything. [ kyle ] it's like we're connected. no we're not. yeah we are. no...we're not. ♪ ♪ ask an allstate agent about the value plan. are you in good hands?